Anti-G20 group stage a news conference outside the Convention Centre
TORONTO - An anti-G20 group known as the Toronto Community Mobilization Network staged a news conference, Tuesday, outside the Metro Convention Centre to address concerns over police presence and funding for the summit.
The groups say they have every right to protest outside the summit and are accusing police of trying to intimidate them and harass them.
At the 30 minute news conference, approximately 40 police officers on bike and on horseback stood at a distance, listening to the estimated 25 activists in attendance - all of which were peaceful."We the people of this city are about to put on the greatest party for the corporate superclass - a party that we are not invited to. We will welcome them to our front door, but they will not meet with us, they will not talk to us, they will not notice us, they will not thank us," said protestor Kevin Tilley."We are not your enemy. It is our money that is paying for this party - not theirs, not the corporate leaders. So please hear our call for restraint."
About a dozen police officers stood at the entrance to the Convention Centre to prevent anyone from going inside. 52 Division inspector Howie Page said police received a tip the protesters may attempt to force their way into the centre, which is currently in use by several companies holding events.
Some of the protesters claim the RCMP and CSIS are watching them, following them and talking to the people they work with.
The group is saying that the billion dollars being spent to host the G20 could better be spent on the TTC and homelessness.
The Toronto Community Mobilization Network is promising several protests leading up to the G20, with the biggest day of action on June 25 - the Friday before the summit takes place. Thousands of protesters are expected to be in attendance.
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The G8/G20 meetings took place in Ontario from June 25-27, 2010. Toronto-based organizations of women, people of colour, indigenous peoples, the poor, the working class, queer and trans people and disabled people organized a peoples convergence with 40,000 people taking to the streets, standing up for justice in collaboration and solidarity!
Activists, community members, inspired and outraged individuals came together as a movement to demand justice for people and the planet. Over a week of mobilizations, events, workshops and direct actions took place in the face of state and police repression, violence and infringements on rights and freedoms.
We must continue to mobilize and build greater solidarity among our communities- an important part of this is supporting all those arrested during the G20 summit, including our allies still in detention, and those released on bail.